Some Randoms

As far as running goes, I ran 10 miles the day after the Pittsburgh half. It didn't suck too much. Nothing like the suck-fest that was my first back-to-back after the trail half the weekend before. I even had a little left in my legs at the end!

Monday night, I felt a little sore throat starting and took a Zicam before bed.

Tuesday, I woke up feeling like I had a full-on head cold. I wasn't going to run anyways and did some other strength stuff and yoga. The stuffiness kept getting worse but included a lot of sneezing reminiscent of allergies. Not sure if it is a cold or allergies or maybe both.

Wednesday, I woke up even more stuffed up.

I wanted to do another 10 miles but felt so bad I put on my hydration pack and decided I'd turn around when I felt really bad. If I didn't get 10 miles, it'd be ok. I started out and I didn't feel too great but not from my head. I could at least breathe out of both nostrils ok. Nope, it was my right calf/Achilles area. Giant knot. I stopped to stretch it probably 8 times within the first few miles. I was thinking if that would just get better I'd feel ok. Also, I didn't wear my compression calf sleeves. Maybe those need to be permanent additions to my running attire.

Then my head started to feel worse. Maybe that's why I stopped thinking about my calf killing me. I started feeling really bad. It was hot but I kept drinking, thinking I'd be ok. I was about to turn around when I went up a not very big hill and stopped at the top because my heart was pounding. But I was really close to the big hill so I went there and went up once and back down. I turned around to go back up but my bodyscreamedthat it was NOT ok with that! So I turned around and headed home. It ended up being 10 miles anyways. But it was not very fun. I guess they all can't be.

Those middle miles sucked if you can't tell. The last mile I actually started feeling ok and did some surges to see if my legs still have any speed. I wasn't even going all out so I think they still have it!

That hill about killed me today and last week it was fine.

It was a beautiful day for a run. To bad I couldn't really enjoy it.

Except it was pretty hot. Or at least I got really hot.

I did try something new today. I got a $10 gift card to Dick's in the goodie bag from Pittsburgh and Tuesday I went planning to spend as close to $10 as I could. Well, that didn't happen (darn, that's how they get you!) but I did walk away with a pair of compression shorts! I'm hopeful I can wear them on the trails and not have my quads turn into two balls of tight stabbing uncomfortable soreness.

Post-run. Ignore my messy room and sweaty mess of a self after that sucktastic run.

The short worked well. Didn't ride up at all (a very big concern for me) and my thighs didn't rub at all. I did feel a little sweaty under the shorts...not sure about that. I think I'll try them out on a long trail run Friday and see how that goes!

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Now for some slightly non-running news:

I meant to write about this a while back but never did.

A few months ago, I was reading my Runner's World a realized they sent you a free t-shirt if your comment was published. FREE!?! I love free stuff (really who doesn't?) I told DBF my new goal was to come up with something to say and get that t-shirt!

After reading, I thought of a comment and emailed it to the magazine.

A few weeks go by and I completely forget about it.

Then I get an email from a name I don't know. Open it even though my instinct was just to delete. And they were going to publish my comment! Woo! Victory!

Another week or so and the shirt came!

And then the magazine!

My 15 lines of fame! Probably the only time my name will appear in a magazine! Got to enjoy it while it lasts!

And just so you know I don't even wear t-shirts that often, just on the weekends maybe. But I was unnecessarily excited about this one! Even gender colored (I assume) and they asked for my size! Goal successful!

I got a new lunch bag because I spilled things in my old one a few too many times and it smelled. If this doesn't hold enough food for me while I'm training for a marathon, even if I have to stay through dinner, then I don't know what's next. Bringing a whole cooler?

For reference, my water bottle next to it.

And Wednesday, DBF signed all the papers and such and got keys to our house!

I got really excited that we had flowering trees and a lilac bush in the back.

We probably won't permanently move in before I go to Colorado. But when I get back I'll have to come up with new running routes! (See, everything in somewhat running related )

Finally, Thursday I graduated from Wayne State! I walked partially because I wanted a gown with the the fancy sleeves and hood. So that's it. Next semester I'll be starting something completely new. I hope I like it!

Update: Thursday, my allergies/cold whatever was a little better, so we are hoping I will not die on my attempt at a long run on the trails tomorrow morning.

Congrats!! On all the good stuff in your bloop - the graduating, the new house, the becoming famous (I hope that means you're still going to bloop), heck, even the new lunch bag! When you have those kind of good things going on, who cares about an occasional sucktastic run, right? And BTW, your back to back long runs are impressing me. You'll definitely be ready for that race in Colorado.

So many good things!!! First, congratulations on graduation!! Big, big accomplishment!!! Also, congrats on the beautiful new home!! You'll have a great time finding and exploring new running routes. Congrats, too, on your 15 lines of fame...I think you'll have many more in the future.

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